Elite School Accused of Hiding Abuse

An 18-year-old water polo player has filed a lawsuit against the elite Harvard-Westlake school in Studio City, Los Angeles, alleging severe sexual assault, physical abuse, and racist harassment from teammates over several years. The student claims school staff ignored or minimized these reports, instead protecting the team and a key player. The lawsuit was filed on February 27, 2026.

The alleged abuse began in August 2022 when the player was 14. Incidents included digital penetration and racist attacks, such as being whipped in the weight room in a re-enactment of slavery. The student also reported non-consensual touching and physical assaults in locker room showers.

School officials reportedly downplayed the severity of the incidents, with one coach questioning the victim's honesty. The lawsuit claims the school denied receiving reports of sexual assault from the parents. The accused teammate was arrested in February 2026 and later admitted to sexual penetration of a minor in juvenile court in November 2026.

Harvard-Westlake issued a statement denying many allegations, asserting they treated reports with urgency and cooperated with investigations and law enforcement. The school subsequently banned the accused student and required an apology letter. The school also allegedly concealed disciplinary proceedings when facilitating his transfer to another high school.